The Wexford People newspaper is being urged to drop hare coursing from its so-called “sports” section.

ICABS is disgusted and dismayed to see a full-page report in this week's edition of the paper which refers to a recent coursing meeting as "thrilling", "excellent" and "magnificent".

In a letter to the editor, we pointed out that coursing is not sport but one of Ireland’s worst forms of cruelty to animals. It involves snatching thousands of hares from the wild in nets, holding them in unnatural captivity for weeks or months and eventually forcing them to run for their lives in front of pairs of greyhounds. All for the amusement of a merciless mob who gamble on which dog will force the hare to change direction first.

Hares suffer fear and stress as they try to stay ahead of the dogs. Those caught and mauled suffer painful injuries such as broken bones and dislocated hips. The hares who survive the ordeal and are at risk of later dying from the stress-related condition known as capture myopathy.

“As we head into the third decade of the 21st Century, isn't it time that the Wexford People recognises that hare coursing is not ‘sport’ but an outdated form of animal cruelty that should be consigned to history,” we stated in our appeal.

“It really reflects badly on the Wexford People that, instead of exposing coursing as the repugnant activity that it is, you choose to give it positive coverage,” we added. “It is even more objectionable at a time when the Irish Hare is at risk of RHD2 - a deadly and contagious virus that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has warned can be spread on nets and boxes used by coursers. A government minister acknowledged that the virus has the potential to wipe out the Irish Hare species.”

The vast majority of Irish citizens want hare coursing ended - as it already is in all our neighbouring jurisdictions (Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales) and in most other civilised countries around the world. A RED C opinion poll conducted last year found that 77% want the government to ban coursing, while just 9% want it to continue.

ACTION ALERT

Urge the Wexford People to show compassion for Irish wildlife and drop coursing from its “sports” pages.

The Editor
Wexford People
Email: front.office@peoplenews.ie
Tel: 053 9140100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WexfordPeople/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wexford_People

Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRkXOvbUPNNjMc6LShwiiXBfnDAPbykf